WAFL Round 10: Feast of goals in Mandurah

I TOOK my first visit to Rushton Park since the redevelopment for Saturday’s encounter between the cold home team Peel and the hot Royals. They kicked six goals each in the first quarter, the Thunder led by a point and the frenetic scoring didn’t end there.

But first let’s pause and acknowledge that Peel’s home ground is a beauty. It’s not just the multi-million dollar changerooms and social facilities – the ground has a real feel to it and the fact it’s next door to a huge netball gathering and a junior footy ground just adds to the atmosphere. They just need a team that can win and on Saturday that team gave some cheek.

The turning point was strange. Peel kicked a goal during the second quarter that brought them within a point or two. East Perth’s Garry Moss received a free kick after a scuffle before the bounce to restart play. He kicked a goal from 40 metres. As players headed to position for the next bounce Moss got another whack (allegedly) and another free kick (definitely). He drove it through for a goal from 50 metres. The Royals had got two goals and a nice lead and play still hadn’t really started from Peel’s last goal. You don’t win games after things like that.

Adam Prior is a strong marking, hard working forward for East Perth and on Saturday he was properly rewarded – he kicked six goals. Paul Johnson was superb in the ruck and even kicked one of those tricky bouncy goals in a performance that may have had some AFL clubs thinking… “Mmm?” Moss kicked four goals and caused plenty of damage, Craig Wulff did what Craig Wulff does and Freddie Clutterbuck, who looks more like Michael Barlow every time I see him play, seemed to be everywhere.

Peel’s forwards were good. Brad Holmes kicked five goals, Matt Battye kicked four and Scott Lycett took some big marks and also kicked four. Brendan Jones was active in the midfield and Anthony Morabito looked classy and kicked beautifully.

East Perth 25.14 (164) Peel 18.6 (114)

Swan Districts took the horror trip to East Fremantle and blew the home team away with a burst of goals in the third quarter on the way to a 41-point victory. Marlon Motlop was brilliant again while reliable midfielders Shaun Hilderbrandt, Josh Roberts and Tom Roach were in great touch. Tim Geappen  kicked four goals, Ashley Hansen and Michael Walters each got three and defenders Kyle Hams and Tallan Ames were outstanding.

The stunned Sharks were well served by Rory O’Briend while Steven Dodd battled hard in defence.

Swan Districts 15.14 (104) East Fremantle 9.9 (63).

West Perth kept in touch with the four with a 22-point home win over Subiaco who have now lost five in a row. Mark Hutchings and Shane Nelson were excellent ball winners for the Falcons, Andrew Strijk kicked three goals and Dion Fleay was solid in defence.

Clancy Wheeler had a good game for the Lions, Aidan Parker’s 200th game was outstanding even though it was disappointing and Rhett Kerr kicked three goals.

West Perth 14.16 (100) Subiaco 12.6 (78).

Top team Claremont made short work of Perth at Claremont Oval with a nine-goal third quarter appearing to be overkill. Tom Lee had his second six-goal game in a row, Kane Mitchell was magnificent in the midfield, Paul Medhurst kicked four goals while Luke Blackwell and Tom Swift dominated the midfield. Fraser McInnes kicked three goals for the Demons, Leon Davis worked hard in a variety of spots and kicked a couple of goals and Nick Lower made a good contribution.

Claremont 24.14 (158) Perth 11.4 (70).

The ladder:

Claremont 28

East Perth 24

Swan Districts 20

East Fremantle 20

Subiaco 16

West Perth 16

South Fremantle 12

Perth 8

Peel 4

 

About Les Everett

A Footy Almanac veteran, Les Everett is the author of Gravel Rash: 100 Years of Goldfields Football and Fremantle Dockers: An Illustrated History. He is the footyalmanac.com WAFL correspondent and uses the money he makes from that role to pay for his expensive websites australianrules.com.au and talkingfrankie.com and fund the extravagant Vin Maskell at scoreboardpressure.com

Comments

  1. The Royals and Swannies are both the real deal. Something we can agree on.
    Is the ruckmen Paul Johnson you refer to the solid left footer who started with the Eagles and then went to Melbourne?
    I doubt we are a chance in the state game at Crio’s alma mater on Brighton Road next Saturday. The SANFL seems a stronger comp to me. My niece’s boyfriend is full back for Norwood, and is in the State squad (g’day Alex) so I may revert to being a Croweater for the day if he plays.
    Thanks for keeping us across the State League, Les.

  2. That is the Paul Johnson. He’ll give the Croweaters some trouble on Saturday.

    Another very interesting WAFL season but those Tigers do look very good.

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